What they said: Pete Carroll

Here’s what Seahawks coach Pete Carroll had to say to the media today:

On Zach Miller: “Yeah. Zach Miller tightened his hammy a little bit and we’re going to try and wait it out and see if it’s going to be a factor for the game. We don’t know until game time.”

On if Zach Miller has a chance of playing against the Colts: “He’s questionable.”

On Max Unger: “Max [Unger] is questionable also; hoping that maybe he can make a turn too. He got some work done this week. It hasn’t gone as quickly as we had hoped. So I can’t tell you more than that. So he goes in questionable and we’ll see what happens on game day.”

On the return of Bruce Irvin: “He’s done really well. There’s just a little rough around the edges on some stuff but he’s in great shape and he’s ready to go and he’s really charged up and he’s done a lot of studying over the time that he was out of here and has come back ready to take advantage of this. He doesn’t want to wait another game or something to get going. We’d like to play him this week.”

On Jeremy Lane: “He’s had a hamstring he got in the game and he has not been able to go. He will not make it.”

On putting more pressure on Kellen Davis if Zach Miller cannot play: “Sure. Sure it does and Luke [Willson] as well. Both of those guys, they’ve been playing in the games and been part of the game plans and all that. So that’s no big deal. But they’re going to have to play more and be more involved if that happens, that Zach [Miller] can’t go.”

On being satisfied with Luke Willson’s blocking ability: “Luke [Willson] has done a good job. Yeah he has measured up. He’s done a really good job. So we’re anxious… really I’m anxious to see him play and take over this role and get a lot of responsibility. It’ll be good to see him.”

On Jordan Hill: “He’s close. You know, he practiced all week long. He could go I think in this game. We don’t have him included yet. We’re going to wait another week before we get him out there.”

On B.J. Daniels: “We evaluated B.J. [Daniels] at length and really liked him and wanted to see if we could get him on the club and then he got chosen earlier than we had an opportunity to pick him. So we’ve had an eye on him the whole time. Keep him in our mind. Maybe if he got room, we would grab him. He was a guy that brings a lot of versatility. He’s played a lot of football in college, done a lot of cool stuff, he can throw it and run it and really has been the guy that in his program, was the focal point guy for four years. So we really just liked everything about him. So when we had the chance we to grab him, we did.”

On using B.J. Daniels as a running back, receiver, or returner: “He’s doing all of that in practice right now. He doesn’t know a thing right now. Just getting in here so late. But he did play running back,. In the preseason game. He played some quarterback, he was back there for kickoffs, he covered kickoffs. So he’s done a little bit of everything. He’s obviously an all-around athlete. We like him as a quarterback. That’s the way we like him.”

On Jermaine Kearse being the kickoff returner with Lane out: “Jermaine [Kearse] is our guy. Yeah Jermaine [Kearse] was that guy at the start of the season. So he’s back out there. It’s good to see Jeron Johnson coming around. He’s going to be able to get back in this game if we need him. He’s had a good week in return.”

On the mindset of the Seahawks being the same every week: “It will be the same. We are going with the same thing. Yeah. Yeah I think every week adds to the opportunity to stay with the philosophy or stray from it. So it’s real important for us to continue to hold on and maintain the mindset, like you said, of what it takes to get ready and get prepared. We’ve had a very good week of work again. Our guys continue to be on it every week, which is crucial. And, the thought that… there’s an enormous challenge out there and going to Indy and with all that they got going and that team that they have, we have to be on our best. This is another championship opportunity for us and a great setting and all and calls on everything. So we do. We’re sticking with it, regardless of what the outcome was, we stay the same and try to put together the same week. It gives us the chance to play at a really high level. So were trying to be really disciplined about that.”

On how much this week will help out the new starters of the offensive line: “Well you c0uld see the difference (in practice). I mean, we can see the difference. You know, Michael Bowie feels much more comfortable and Paul [McQuistan] is another week older at his spot. Really, we’ve had no trouble with Lem [Lemuel Jean-Pierre] at all. He just stepped right in and did a really good job. The fact that those guys get to come back, they’re more ready than they have been. We expect them to play really clean and sharp football and they’re going to have to; to play well. So that’s what we’re counting on.”

On how Russell Wilson has handled the pressure from the opponents’ defense: “I think he’s doing fine. He knows that when people pressure you there’s opportunities to make big plays. As long as we give him a chance and we pick it up, I don’t know anybody I’d like to have back there more when the heat’s on him. He has a variety of solutions to the problems. So we don’t mind that at all and he doesn’t mind that at all either.”

On having given up only eight punt return yards all season: “It’s a terrific punt team. Johnny [Jon Ryan] does a great job placing the football. He’s an incredible, successful kicker when we’re kicking around the 50-yard line and we pin guys consistently. So it’s a weapon to us that we count on, that we’re going to put someone inside the 10-yard line. But this group has been together. This is a really experienced punt team, they know what’s going on, they’re really good at what we’re asking them to do, and the way that Jon [Ryan] has been hitting the football, its worked together really well. It’s a part of our game that we do count on and I’m hoping that it will stay the same.”

On the special teams’ performance: “Yeah it’s been a great group for us. We’ve been, for the most part, without the penalties to bother you, we have explosive opportunities in the punt returns for the most part. Haven’t had any kickoff returns but the coverage teams have been great and on it and this is a classic example of a game where you need that again. You need everybody firing and put together a game where we give them nothing. Special teams has a big role in that. So hopefully that, plus a chance for a couple of explosives could be really important in this game plan.”

On if causing turnovers is less likely to happen against Andrew Luck: “They’ve turned the ball over twice. They haven’t fumbled the ball yet. So they’re great it in the first quarter of the season and we’re going to try to do something about that. It’s a hallmark of the way we play and I’m hoping that we find our ways. He does throw the ball down the field, he gives you chances, they protect him well enough, and he’s very resourceful running around. But there will be chances in this game. We are going to have to go ahead and jump at it and see if we can take advantage of it.”